Moistener for gummed surfaces.



UNITED STATES Patented June 21, 1904.

PATENT OEErcE.

THOMAS M. LOSIE, OF BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO OHAUNOEY B. LOSIE` ARTHUR T. LOSIE, AND THOMAS M. LOSIE, JR., OF ELMIRA,

NIOISTENER FOR GUNIIVIED SURFACES.

SPECIFICATION forming part Yof Letters Patent No. 763,296, dated June 21, 1904.

Application filed January 15, 1904. Serial No. 189,142. (No model' To all whom, it may con/:ern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS M. Losin, a citizcn of thc United States, residing at Binghamton, in the county of Broome and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Moisteners for Grummed Surfaces, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in devices for moistening the gummed surfaces of envelops, stamps, labels, and the like; and the object of my improvements is to provide a simple, inexpensive, and edective device for this purpose wherein the pad which supplies the moistening liquid will be constantly fed with the liquid and wherein said pad may be readily renewed from time to time as it becomes impregnated with the gum from the prepared surfaces of the envelops, labels, Snc., applied thereto in the process of moistening. .I attain my object by means of the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l represents a perspective view of my moistener; Fig. 2, a vertical transverse section through the same, and Fig. 3 a similar section of a modified form of my device.

. Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several views.

A represents a box or casing of wood, the top edges of which are rabbeted on the inside to receive the flanged rim of a receptacle B, of glass, porcelain, or other suitable material, which may be filled with Water or other liquid for moistening purposes. Across one end of the box a piece O is fastened to hold the receptacle Bin place and also to serve as a means for attaching the spring plate or platen hereinafter described.

At the front of the box A is placed a slightlyinclined shelf D, preferably of metal, the outer edges of which are flanged at d to lap over the top edges of the box A and the receptacle B. Resting upon this shelf is'the moisteningpad F., which extends beyond the shelf down into the liquid contained in the receptacle B. I preferably make this pad of two thicknesses of blotting-paper, although other materials may be used for the pad, or a single thickness may be utilized instead of two, as shown herein. By using two thicknesses the under pad is constantly drawing up the liquid from the receptacle B and supplying it to the under side of the upper pad in addition to the liquid drawn up by the upper pad itself, thereby providing an ample supply of the moistening liquid at the point where the gummed surfaces are applied. The shelf D is provided ywith a slight inward incline in order that the liquid which is pressed out of the pads will be returned to the receptacle B, and the shelf is also slightly depressed, so as to form a raised rim on the three outward sides in order that the liquid may be prevented from fiowing over the sides if pressed out in too large quantities.

F represents a metal plate or platen, which is attached to the piece O by means of springhinges at each' end, as indicated at G. This plate F normally assumes the position shown in the drawings.

In operating the device the gummed edge of the envelop, label, or the like is placed upon the moistening-pad E and the plate F pressed down upon it. This causes the gummed surface to be evenly moistened over its entire extent and without applying thereto an excess of the moistening liquid. This liquid is constantly being drawn up to the exposed surface of the pad E by reason of the porosity of the blotting-paper, and when the exposed surface has received so much gum from the prepared surfaces as to prevent the moisture from flowing freely therethrough the pad may be reversed t0 present a fresh surface or renewed from time to time, as may be required. As blotting-paper may be readily procured and is by its nature the best conductor for the liquid, I prefer it to other materials, but do not restrict myself to its use.

It is frequently required to meisten large numbers of envelops or other articles provided with gummed surfaces in rapid succession, and in order to supply the additional quantity of liquid to meet such requirements I provide my device with an additional roservoir of liquid, as indicated at H in Fig. 3,

which takes the place of the cross-piece C in the device, as hereinbefore described. This reservoir H is provided with a slot along its lower forward edge through which passes a sheet of wicking or other moisture-conducting material I in such manner that the liquid from the reservoir H will flow steadily and not too rapidly upon the upper surface of the moistening-pad E, thereby furnishing an additional supply to said pad to meet the requirements.

By means of a moistening device arranged as above described it will be seen that I provide a large reservoir of the liquid from which the moistening-pad will be constantly supplied, and in the modification shown in Fig. 3 the upper reservoir H may be filled with a liquid gum, whereby the upper surface of the pad E may carry to the surface to be moistened a gumming fluid, so that such surfaces need not be previously prepared.

While I have described my device as comprising a glass or porcelain receptacle B set in a wooden easing, I do not confine myself to this construction, as the whole article may be made of metal without departing from the spirit of my invention. I, however, prefer to use the glass or porcelain receptacle, as it will not rust out and may be more readily kept clean.

Having thus described my improvements, what I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A moistener comprising a receptacle for liquid, a shelf at the front of the receptacle above the liquid, a liquid-conducting pad resting upon said shelf and extending down into the liquid back of the shelf, anda plate or platen held suspended over the shelf for pressing a gummed surface evenly upon the eX- posed surface of said pad.

2. A moistener comprising a receptacle for liquid, a shelf at the front of the receptacle above the liquid therein, said shelf being' inclined slightly toward the rear and having slightly-raised edges around its outward sides, a liquid-conducting pad resting upon said shelf and extending down into the liquid back of the shelf, and a plate or platen held suspended over the shelf for pressing a gummed surface evenly upon the exposed surface of said pad.

3. A moistener comi'irising a receptacle for liquid, a shelf at the front of the receptacle above the liquid, a liquid-cond ucting pad resting upon said shelf and extending down into the liquid bach of the shelf, a cover for the receptacle back of the shelf, and a plate or platen supported upon spring-hinges at an angle over said shelf. y

4. A moistener comprising a casing, a receptacle for liquid supported in said casing, a shelf resting upon the top of the casing over the front side of the receptacle, a liquid-conducting ,pad resting upon said shelf and eX- tending down into the liquid, a cover for the other side of the receptacle, and a plate or platen held at an angle over the shelf by springhinges attached to said cover.

A moistener comprising a receptacle for liquid, a shelf at the front of the receptacle above the liquid, a liquid-conduetin g pad resting upon said shelf and extending down into the liquid, and an auxiliary reservoir covering the receptacle back of said shelf, said reser- Voir being provided with means for feeding liquid to said pad in regulated quantity.

In testimony whereofI have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS M. LOSIE.

Witnesses:

HENRY MAUS, FREDERICK E. VosBURG. 

